Don Perata, the former President Pro Tem of the California State Senate — and a Democratic mover in the Bay Area — has endorsed Democratic Dublin City Councilman Eric Swalwell over 20-term Rep. Pete Stark in the contentious East Bay 15th Congressional District race.

“It is time for new energy and true leadership from the next Representative in Congress for the 15thDistrict, and Eric Swalwell is the right person for the job,” according to a statement by Perata, who represented parts of the East Bay congressional district while serving in the State Senate.

Perata’s endorsement comes a week after Stark made news, accused by former California Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torricoof going on an angry tirade after Torrico informed him of his endorsement of Swalwell. Torrico, an attorney, told the Chronicle that a furious Stark questioned his santity, threatened to call Social Services to have his children checked out, and vowed to call legal groups to make sure he didn’t get work from them.

Stark, in a statement, said he “got a little heated” with Torrico, but didn’t apologize for the exchange — only saying he believed the former Assemblyman and Attorney General candidate had “bullied” him and was “itching for a fight.”

Perata now joins former Democratic Rep. Ellen Tauscher — who also represented a wide swath of the district for more than a decade — and Torrico as leading endorsers of Swalwell, 31, the Alameda County deputy district attorney who is challenging Stark, 80, as he seeks a 21st term.

Perata, a former Oakland mayoral candidate, has long roots in the East Bay — and in addition to his high profile tenure in the California legislature, also served as a member of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and a teacher in East Bay Schools.

“Don Perata is known for getting results and I admire that,” said Swalwell in a statement today. “I respect his willingness to work across the aisle to get things done for his constituents and the State, most notably when he worked with then-Governor Schwarzenegger to place and successfully campaign for five infrastructure bond measures on the ballot in 2006 to improve roads and mass transit, build more affordable housing, repair levees, and upgrade educational facilities.”

The Democrat-versus-Democrat race — the result of California’s new “top two” primary system — represents the most challenging in the long career of Stark. The East Bay Congressman, who has made headlines with recent gaffes, told the Chronicle recently he will not debate Swalwell before the November general election.

Swalwell’s camp says that more than 80 locally elected officials and community leaders have endorsed his candidacy over that of Stark in the newly redrawn district which stretches from Livermore and San Ramon to Newark and Fremont.

Swalwell said he has also added endorsements of local law enforcement including “every police officer association, the Deputy Sheriffs Association, Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, and Alameda County Sheriff Emeritus Charlie Plummer.”

Stark, the veteran House member, has received the endorsement of President Barack Obama, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Democrats in the the Bay Area Congressional delegation.